U.S. patent number 6,249,576 [Application Number 09/047,305] was granted by the patent office on 2001-06-19 for telephone directory information system with call placement capability.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc.. Invention is credited to Neal J. King, Michael Sassin.
United States Patent |
6,249,576 |
Sassin , et al. |
June 19, 2001 |
Telephone directory information system with call placement
capability
Abstract
A system and method for providing directory information with a
call completion feature includes a data network server located on a
data network for establishing a connection between a first
communication device and a second communication device. The network
server is configured to transmit a search command signal in
response to a search command request and to transmit an
establish-connection command signal in response to an
establish-connection request, the establish-connection command
signal being necessary to establish the connection between the
first and second communication devices. A database is connected to
the network server and is configured to transmit a first telephone
number to the server in response to the search command signal. In a
preferred embodiment, the establish-connection command signal is
transmitted to a computer connected to the server, causing the
computer to dial the first telephone number, thereby establishing
the connection between the first and second communication devices.
In another preferred embodiment, the establish-connection command
signal is transmitted from the server to a telephone switch,
causing the telephone switch to establish the connection between
the first and second communication devices. In alternative
embodiments, the system may be implemented over an internet
protocol (IP) telephony connection or via any known network.
Inventors: |
Sassin; Michael (San Jose,
CA), King; Neal J. (Oakland, CA) |
Assignee: |
Siemens Information and
Communication Networks, Inc. (Boca Raton, FL)
|
Family
ID: |
21948234 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/047,305 |
Filed: |
March 24, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
379/218.01;
370/352; 370/401; 379/216.01; 379/900; 379/93.23 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M
3/4931 (20130101); H04M 7/003 (20130101); H04M
3/48 (20130101); H04M 3/4935 (20130101); H04M
7/006 (20130101); H04M 7/12 (20130101); Y10S
379/90 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04M
3/493 (20060101); H04M 3/487 (20060101); H04M
7/00 (20060101); H04M 7/12 (20060101); H04M
3/48 (20060101); H04M 003/42 (); H04M 011/00 ();
H04L 012/28 (); H04L 012/66 () |
Field of
Search: |
;379/93.23,201,216,242,900,93.17,355,356
;370/352,401,353,354,355,356 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hong; Harry S.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A telephone directory information system with call completion
capability comprising:
a data network server located on a data network, said server being
configured to cooperate in establishing a telephonic connection
between a first communication device and a second communication
device, said server having at least two modes of operation
including a search mode and an establish-connection mode, said
server being configured to transmit a search command signal in
response to a search request received from a requesting source over
said data network during said search mode, said server being
configured to transmit an establish-connection command signal to
said requesting source during said establish-connection mode in
response to an establish-connection request received from said
requesting source over said data network, said establish-connection
command signal being specific to establishing said connection
between said first communication device and said second
communication device; and
memory connected to said server, said memory having stored
telephone directory information including a first telephone number
assigned to said first communication device, said memory being
responsive to said search command signal transmitted from said
server, said search command signal triggering transmission of data
indicative of said first telephone number to said server.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said server is connected to a
computer via said data network, said computer being said requesting
source, said connection being configured to relay said search
request and said establish-connection request from said computer to
said server, said connection further being configured to relay said
establish-connection command signal from said server to said
computer, said establish-connection command signal including
instructions compatible with operation of said computer to dial
said first telephone number to establish said telephonic connection
between said first communication device and said second
communication device, said first communication device being a first
telephone remotely located from said computer, said second
communication device being a second telephone connected to said
computer.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein said first telephone number stored
in said memory comprises a network address assigned to said first
communication device, said network address being included in said
establish-connection command signal, said establish-connection
command signal being transmitted to said second communication
device, said second communication device being integrated with said
requesting source and being an IP telephony-enabled computer, said
IP telephony-enabled computer being configured to include said
network address in voice information packets transmitted by said IP
telephony-enabled computer subsequent to receipt of said network
address from said server, said first communication device, said IP
telephony-enabled computer, and said server all being connected to
said data network.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein said server is connected to a
computer via said data network, said computer being said requesting
source, said connection being configured to relay said search
request and said establish-connection request from said computer to
said server, and further wherein said establish-connection command
signal transmitted from said server includes said first telephone
number assigned to said first communication device and instructions
directing said computer to establish said connection between said
first communication device and said second communication device
based upon said first telephone number, said first communication
device being a first telephone remotely located from said computer
and said second communication device being a second telephone
connected to said computer.
5. A method for providing telephone directory information
comprising the steps of:
receiving a data transmission from a computer via a data network,
including receiving a search request for a first telephone number
assigned to a first communication device;
accessing said telephone number from a generally accessed telephone
directory database;
transmitting data related to said telephone number accessed from
said database to said computer via said data network;
transmitting a command to said computer via said data network to
establish a telephonic connection that includes said first
communication device, said first communication device being
remotely located from said computer, said command being specific to
said telephone number; and
establishing said telephonic connection involving said first
communication device as a response to said command to establish
said connection, including utilizing said computer in initiating
said telephonic connection.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of establishing said
connection includes transmitting said telephone number to said
computer connected to a second communication device together with
instructions directing said computer to dial said telephone number
to set up a telephone call from said second communication device to
said first communication device.
7. A telephone directory information system with a call completion
capability comprising:
a data network server connected to a data network, said server
being responsive to a telephone number search request, receipt of
said search request from a requesting source triggering
transmission of a search command signal from said server, said
server including a control program enabling said server to transmit
an establish-connection command signal to establish a connection
between a first communication device and a second communication
device, said server being configured to transmit partial search
results to said requesting source while disabling detection of
telephone numbers at said requesting source;
a database having memory storing generally accessible telephone
directory information, including a first telephone number assigned
to said first communication device, said memory being responsive to
said search command signal transmitted by said server, receipt of
said search command signal triggering transfer of said first
telephone number to said server; and
a network interface having an input connected to said server and an
output connected to a telephone switch, said input being configured
to receive said establish-connection command signal, said
establish-connection command signal having a format incompatible
for processing by said telephone switch, said output being
configured to transmit a reformatted establish-connection command
signal having a format compatible for processing by said telephone
switch.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein said establish-connection command
signal transmitted by said server to said telephone switch includes
an instruction to set up a connection between said first
communication device and said server, said control program enabling
said server to forward said call to said second communication
device via said data network, said second communication device
being said requesting source and being a computer enabled for IP
telephony.
9. The system of claim 7 wherein said establish-connection command
signal transmitted by said server to said telephone switch includes
an instruction to establish said telephonic connection between said
first communication device and said second communication device,
said second communication device being a second telephone.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein said establish-connection command
signal further includes an instruction directing said telephone
switch to determine a line status of a line connected to said first
communication device and to transmit a busy signal to said server
if said line is busy, said control program enabling said server to
relay said busy signal via said data network to said requesting
source, said requesting source being a computer connected to said
second communication device.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein said server is responsive to a
monitor request signal transmitted by said computer in response to
said busy signal, said monitor request signal triggering
transmission of a monitor command signal from said server, said
monitor command signal including an instruction directing said
telephone switch to activate a ringer on said second telephone upon
said line becoming available.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to a method and system for
providing telephone directory information. More particularly, the
invention relates to a web-based telephone directory information
system with call placement capability.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Telecommunications play a vital role in modern society, especially
in the business sector. As markets have continued to become more
globalized, telecommunications have grown more vital in maintaining
channels of communication between remotely located individuals and
corporations engaged in business. With the growing reliance on
telecommunications, a premium is placed on efficiency in accessing
telephone number information and setting up telephone calls.
One of the longest standing sources of telephone directory
information is a telephone book. The directory information is
stored in an accessible format by providing, for instance, separate
business, residential, and governmental agency listings. Often
business listings will also be presented alphabetically by business
classification. A telephone book is limited, however, by the
geographical area for which it provides information. Although it is
possible to access directory information for any given geographical
area by simply obtaining the telephone book encompassing that area,
a collection of telephone books can quickly become unwieldy.
Telephone-accessible directory information services are also
available. These services provide an advantage over telephone books
in that the service is not necessarily limited to a particular
geographical area. A caller can access a telephone number assigned
to a telephone in any location, provided that a service has been
established for that location. Typically, a caller will call the
number of a directory information service provider, identify the
name and perhaps an address of the called party, and the service
provider will access the telephone number from a database.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,685 to Kero describes a refinement of the
above-described telephone-accessible directory service wherein,
subsequent to accessing the telephone number of the called party,
the service provider places the telephone call to the called party
for the user.
Telephone directory information services are now also available
on-line over a data network, such as the World Wide Web of the
Internet. The service enables a user to enter the name of a party
to be called and, optionally, the city and address where the party
resides. The user transmits the information to the server
supporting the web site of the service provider, and the server
accesses information that includes the telephone number of the
called party. The server then transmits the telephone number to the
user. The user can then make the telephone call to the party based
upon the transmitted search results.
What is needed is a web-based directory information system having a
call placement capability which allows a user to perform a
telephone number search from a computer and to connect to the
called party without having to make a separate telephone call.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A directory information system with call completion capability
includes a data network server located on a data network for
establishing a connection between a first communication device and
a second communication device. The network server has two modes of
operation, namely a search mode and an establish-connection mode.
Within the search mode, the network server responds to a search
request transmitted by a computer over the data network by
transmitting a search command signal. During the
establish-connection mode, the network server responds to an
establish-connection request by transmitting an
establish-connection command signal. The server is connected to a
memory device which stores data, including a first telephone number
assigned to the first communication device. The memory device
responds to the search command signal transmitted by the network
server by transmitting the first telephone number to the network
server.
In a preferred embodiment, a connection between a requesting
computer and the network server is configured to relay the search
request and the establish-connection request from the computer to
the server. The connection is further configured to relay the
establish-connection command signal from the server to the
computer. The establish-connection command signal includes
instructions directing the computer to dial the first telephone
number to establish the connection between the first communication
device and the second communication device, which is typically a
second telephone. In this embodiment, the connection is triggered
from the server, but is established from the computer that
requested the directory information.
Another embodiment of the invention includes the server configured
to transmit the establish-connection command signal to a telephone
switch, the establish-connection command signal including the first
telephone number and instructions directing the switch to establish
a connection between the first and second communication devices
based upon the first telephone number. In this embodiment, the
first communication device may be a first telephone and the second
communication device is a second telephone connected to the
computer. The establish-connection command signal further includes
instructions to the switch to transmit a busy signal to the server
if a line connected to the first telephone is off-hook. The server
is configured to transmit a busy signal message to the computer
upon receipt of the busy signal from the telephone switch.
The server is also configured to transmit a monitor command signal
to the telephone switch in response to a monitor request signal
transmitted from the computer. The monitor command signal includes
instructions to the telephone switch, directing the switch to
activate a ringer on the second telephone upon the line connected
to the first telephone becoming available and to place a call from
the second telephone to the first telephone if the second telephone
goes off-hook while the ringer is activated.
A method for providing telephone directory information with a call
completion feature includes receiving a data transmission via a
data network, the transmission including a search request for the
telephone number assigned to the first communication device. The
telephone number is accessed from a telephone directory database
and is transmitted over the data network. A request is received to
establish a telephonic connection between the first communication
device and the remotely located second communication device based
upon the transmitted telephone number. A connection is then
established between the first communication device and the second
communication device based upon the request to establish the
connection.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a first preferred embodiment
of a web-based telephone directory information system according to
the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a second preferred
embodiment of the web-based telephone directory information system
illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an alternative embodiment of
the system illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 which employs IP
telephony.
FIG. 4 illustrates a second alternative IP telephony embodiment of
the system illustrated in FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a flow diagram showing a method for providing telephone
directory information utilizing the first preferred embodiment of
the system shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a flow diagram showing a method for providing telephone
directory information utilizing the second preferred embodiment of
the system illustrated in FIG. 2.
FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a method for providing telephone
directory information utilizing either alternative embodiment of
the systems illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
With reference to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of a telephone
directory information system with call completion capability
includes a data network server 10 connected to a database 12. The
network server 10 is connected to a central office 24 via an
interface 14 which reformats signaling information transmitted by
the server 10 into a format compatible for processing by the
central office 24. Preferably, the network server 10 is connected
to the World Wide Web of the Internet and supports a web site which
provides a graphic user interface for a user of the telephone
directory information system. Thus, the interface 14 may represent
an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
The database 12 stores telephone directory information, including a
telephone number assigned to a first telephone 26. A computer 16 is
connected to the data network server 10 via a data communications
link supported by the central office 24. The computer 16 is
connected to a second telephone 18 and is configured to dial
telephone numbers to set up calls for the second telephone.
Although the second telephone 18 is illustrated as a stand-alone
device, the telephone could also be integrally constructed into the
computer 16. The data link between the computer 16 and the server
10 enables the computer 16 to access the web site supported by the
network server 10.
The data link which supports the transmission of data between the
computer 16 and the network server 10 can be an analog telephone
line or a digital telephone line. The data transmitted between the
computer 16 and the server 10 during operation of the telephone
directory information system includes a first web page of the web
site transmitted by the server after a user of the computer 16
directs a message to the server 10 requesting the first web page.
The first web page may include a set of prompts which instruct the
user to enter information regarding the party to whom the user
wishes to place a call, the prompts including a name entry blank, a
city entry blank, and an address entry blank. The user transmits
the information to the server 10 together with a request to perform
a search of the database 12 using parameters containing the called
party information.
The search request is received by the server 10, which then
transmits a search command signal to the database 12. The database
12 stores files in a memory of local exchange carrier (LEC)
customers, including information such as the name and address of
the customers. If a customer is a business, the file might include
a classification by type of business. Thus, a user could perform a
search, for instance, to obtain the telephone numbers of all
hardware stores within a particular zip code. A search of the
database 12 is performed and, in the example illustrated by FIG. 1,
a first telephone number assigned to the first telephone 26 is
accessed. The first telephone number is transmitted to the server
10, which transmits the telephone number to the computer 16. The
computer receives the telephone number in the form of search
results, possibly, if the search parameters were broad, together
with other telephone numbers assigned to other LEC customers.
Optionally, the results might be encoded so that the name of the
called party is displayed, but not the telephone number assigned to
the party. In this manner, the directory can provide a limited
degree of privacy to customers listed in the database directory.
That is, the telephone number of the customer could not be
disseminated as though it were published in a telephone book.
However, a user can access the telephone number by searching the
database and directing the network server 10 to complete the call
without ever having actually become aware of the telephone
number.
The user can select the first telephone number from the search
results to complete a call to the first telephone 26. The selection
can be made by clicking on the text of the first telephone number
utilizing a mouse, not shown, connected to the computer 16.
Selecting the first telephone number causes the computer 16 to
transmit a message to the network server 10, requesting the server
to transmit a connection command signal 22 together with the first
telephone number to the computer 16. The connection command signal
includes instructions to the computer to disconnect the data link
connecting the computer 16 and the server 10 and to dial the first
telephone number. Disconnecting the computer is required to allow
the computer 16 to transmit a call set up signal 20 to the central
office 24 to set up a call to the first telephone. If the computer
16 and the second telephone are connected to separate phone lines,
then disconnecting the computer 16 from the data link is
unnecessary. The call set up signals are dual-tone-multifrequency
(DTMF) signals if the telephone network is an analog telephone
network. If the call is set up over a digital telephone network,
the signals are digital call set up signals.
The connection between the second telephone 18 and the computer 16
can be configured such that the computer contains signaling
circuitry in parallel with the signaling circuitry contained in the
second telephone. Alternatively, the computer 16 might include an
integrally constructed telephone.
With reference to FIG. 2, a second embodiment of the telephone
directory system is shown wherein the server 10 is configured for
communication with the central office 24 to direct the central
office to establish the connection between the first telephone 26
and the second telephone 18. After the server 10 has transmitted
the search results of the telephone number search, the user selects
the first telephone number. Selecting the first telephone number
causes the computer 16 to transmit a connection request signal 28
to the server 10 via the central office 24. The connection request
signal 28 includes information directing the server 10 to establish
the connection between the first telephone 26 and the second
telephone 18. The server 10 transmits an establish-connection
command signal 22 to an interface 14 positioned between the server
10 and the central office 24. The interface 14 reformats the
establish-connection command signal and transmits the reformatted
establish-connection command signal to the central office 24.
Preferably, the interface 14 conforms to the Common Channel
Signaling System No. 7 (SS7) global standard for telecommunications
defined by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
Provided that the central office 24 is configured to execute a
signaling protocol that conforms to the SS7 standard, the interface
14 is sufficient to enable the server 10 and the central office to
exchange signaling information. If the central office 24 executes a
signaling protocol that is not compatible with the SS7 signaling
protocol executed by the interface 14, then a computer telephony
interface (CTI) 30 can be utilized to establish a common signaling
protocol for the exchange of signaling information between the
server 10 and the central office 24.
The establish-connection command signal 22 includes instructions to
the central office 24 to ascertain whether the line connecting the
first telephone 26 to the central office switch is available and to
communicate the line status to the server 10. If the central office
24 determines that the telephone is off-hook, the central office 24
transmits a busy message to the server 10, and the server 10 relays
the busy message to the computer 16. The busy message might also
include a prompt providing the user with an option to have the
central office switch monitor the switch-to-first telephone
connection to determine when the line becomes available and to
complete the call from the second telephone 18 to the first
telephone 26 at that time. If the user selects the call completion
option, the central office 24 disconnects the data link between the
computer 16 and the server 10, monitors the line to determine when
the line becomes available, and transmits ring signals to the
second telephone 18 when the line becomes available. If the second
telephone 18 goes off-hook while the ringer is ringing, then the
central office 24 puts the call through to the first telephone 26.
The busy message might also include an option of disconnecting the
data link without transmitting an establish-connection request to
the central office 24. The user can then dial the first telephone
number to establish the connection to the first telephone.
Referring to FIG. 3, an alternative embodiment of the telephone
directory information system which utilizes IP telephony includes a
server 10 which is configured to facilitate an IP telephony
connection between the first telephone 26 and the computer 16 which
has IP telephony capability. After the telephone number search has
been performed and the user has selected the number of the called
party, the computer 16 transmits the selection of the telephone
number in the establish-connection request signal 28 to the server
10. The server 10 is configured to respond to the
establish-connection request signal 28 by transmitting an
establish-connection command signal 22 via the interface 14 to the
central office 24 which includes directions to establish a
telephonic connection between the server 10 and the first telephone
26. The telephone connection between the first telephone 26 and the
server 10 is supported by a gateway 27 which provides a conversion
function enabling the telephonic connection to the first telephone
26 to be forwarded by the server 10 to the IP telephony-enabled
computer 16 in the form of an IP telephony connection.
If the line to the first telephone is busy, the central office 24
transmits a busy message to the server 10. In response, the server
10 transmits a busy signal message to the computer 16. The message
might include an option to direct the central office 24 to monitor
the line and to establish the connection between the server 10 and
the first telephone 26 when the line becomes available. If the
server 10 determines that the line is available, the server 10
directs the central office 24 to establish a telephonic connection
between the first telephone 26 and the server 10. The data link
between the server 10 and the computer 16 enables the server 10 to
forward the call from the server 10 to the computer 16 in the form
of packetized IP telephony voice data. The gateway 27 between the
central office 24 and the server enables voice information
transmitted by the first telephone 26 in the form of telephonic
voice signals to be converted and compressed into packetized IP
telephony voice data for transmission over the data link. The
gateway 27 also converts packetized IP telephony voice data
transmitted from the IP telephony enabled computer 16 into digital
voice information compatible for processing by the first
telephone.
Referring to FIG. 4, another alternative embodiment of the
telephone directory information system includes the network server
10 connected to a local area network (LAN) 36 via an interface 14.
The LAN 36 supports the computer 16, hereafter referred to as the
first computer, and a third IP telephony-enabled computer 32. A
gateway 27 converts packetized voice data transmitted from the
first computer 16 into digital voice information compatible for
processing by the central office 24. As in the previously described
embodiments, the server 10 is configured for communication with the
first computer 16 to enable a user of the computer 16 to perform a
search of the database 12 for a telephone number of a called party.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the called party can be a user
of a second IP telephony-enabled computer 38, the third computer
32, or the second telephone 26.
The first and third computers 16 and 32 on the LAN 36 and the
gateway 27 collectively comprise a virtual private branch exchange
(PBX) 35. The virtual PBX 35 is a distributed packet based switch
with multimedia capability. The network server 10 provides a
controller-like functionality for the virtual PBX 35 by directing
the gateway 27 or the first computer 16 to transmit messaging
signals to the central office 24 and to the second IP
telephony-enabled computer 38 via a wide area network (WAN) 33. The
second computer 38 is connected to the virtual PBX 35 via the WAN
33. The WAN 33 can be broadly defined to include an internet
service provider which connects to the second IP telephony-enabled
computer via a second central office (not shown).
The embodiment of the telephone directory information system shown
in FIG. 4 supports completion of an IP telephony call after the
first computer 16 has selected a telephone number from the results
of a telephone number search of the database 12. The IP telephony
call might be an internal call, for instance to the third IP
telephony-enabled computer 32 on the LAN 36, or the call might be
an external call to the second IP telephony-enabled computer 38 via
the WAN 33. In the first instance, the first IP telephony-enabled
computer 16 transmits an establish-connection request signal to the
server 10 to indicate, for instance, that the network address, the
equivalent of a telephone number, assigned to the third computer 32
has been selected from the results of the search of the database
12. The server 10 transmits the network address assigned to the
third computer 32 together with instructions directing the first
computer 16 to utilize the network address to transmit call setup
signals to establish an IP telephony link with the third computer
32 and, after the link is established, to route packetized voice
information to the third computer 32.
To establish an IP telephony link from the first computer 16 to the
second computer 38, the first computer 16 transmits an
establish-connection request to the server 10 after the server 10
has performed the search and transmitted the results to the first
computer 16. If the second computer resides on a remote LAN
connected to the WAN 33, the establish-connection request
transmitted by the first computer 16 includes a request for the
network address of the second computer 38. The server 10 transmits
the network address of the second computer 38 to the first computer
16 together with instructions for the first computer 16 to utilize
the network address to transmit call setup signals to the second
computer 38 to establish the IP telephony link.
If the user of the first computer 16 selects the telephone number
of the first telephone 26, the server 10 transmits an
establish-connection command signal to the virtual PBX 35 via the
interface 14 to establish a telephonic connection between the first
telephone 26 and the gateway 27, which makes the telephonic
connection through the central office 24 to the first telephone 26.
Voice information transmitted from the first telephone 26 is
packetized by the gateway 27 and is relayed to the first computer
16 via an IP telephony link from the server 10.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, a method for providing telephone
directory information includes receiving a telephone number search
request signal from a computer 16 in step 40. As previously noted,
in the preferred embodiment the search request signal is received
by a network server 10 supporting a web site on the World Wide Web.
Alternatively, the server 10 might support a data network such as a
LAN. The search request signal is generated by a user of the
computer 16 selecting a search option on a web page by, for
instance, using a mouse to click on highlighted text on the web
page. The server 10 responds to the search request signal by
transmitting a search command signal to a database 12 in step 42.
The database 12 transmits the results of the search to the server
10, and in step 44, the server 10 transmits the results of the
search to the computer 16.
The results are transmitted to the computer 16 in a format which
enables the user of the computer to select one of the telephone
numbers to be transmitted to the server 10 to complete a call to a
party assigned the selected number. The text of the telephone
numbers representing the search results are highlighted, and the
user selects the telephone number of the called party by clicking
on the text of the called party's telephone number. Selection of a
telephone number causes the computer 16 to transmit an
establish-connection request signal to the server 10. The web page
containing the results of the search includes, in addition to the
telephone numbers generated by the search, an option to perform
another search if none of the telephone numbers is assigned to the
party the user desires to call. In step 46, the server 10
determines whether the computer 16 has transmitted an
establish-connection request signal or a new search request. If a
new search has been requested, the system is returned to step 40,
where a search is requested.
If an establish-connection request signal is transmitted, the
server 10 is configured to respond to the request in step 48 by
transmitting the first telephone number assigned to the first
telephone 26 with instructions to the computer 16 to disconnect the
data link to the server 10 and to dial the first telephone number
for the second telephone 18 connected to the computer 16. If the
computer 16 and the second telephone 18 are connected to separate
lines, it is unnecessary to disconnect the computer 16 from the
data link. The computer disconnects from the data link to the
server 10 in step 50 and dials the telephone number to establish
the connection between the first telephone 26 and the second
telephone 18 in step 52.
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 6, an alternative method for
providing a web-based telephone directory information service with
call completion capability includes receiving a search request from
the computer 16 in step 56. The server 10 responds to the search
request in step 58 by executing a search of the telephone directory
database 12. The server 10 transmits the results of the search to
the computer 16 in step 60. The server 10 determines whether an
establish-connection request signal has been transmitted from the
computer 16 in step 62. If a new search is requested, then steps 56
through 62 are repeated.
If the computer 16 transmits an establish-connection request signal
in step 62, the server 10 is configured to respond by transmitting
the selected telephone number to the central office 24 via the CTI
interface 30 in step 64, together with instructions directing the
central office 24 to determine the line status of a line connected
to the first telephone 26 in step 66. If the line is not busy, the
server 10 transmits an establish-connection command signal 22 which
includes instructions to the central office 24 to disconnect 72 the
computer from the data link to the server 10 and to establish 74 a
connection between the first and second telephones 26 and 18.
If the line is determined to be busy in step 66, the central office
24 transmits a busy signal to the server 10 and the server relays
the busy signal to the computer 16 in step 68. The message which
relays the busy status information from the server 10 to the
computer 16 includes an option to have the central office 24
monitor the line connected to the first telephone to determine when
the line becomes available. If the monitor option is selected, the
central office 24 monitors the line in step 70 until the line
becomes available, at which time the central office 24 disconnects
the computer from the data link in step 72 and activates the ringer
on the second telephone 18. If the second telephone 18 goes
off-hook while the ringer is activated, the central office puts
through a call from the second telephone 18 to the first telephone
in step 74 to establish the connection.
With reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 7, a method for providing
telephone directory information with IP telephony call completion
capability includes the steps of receiving a search request in step
80, searching a telephone directory database in step 82, and
transmitting the search results to an IP telephony-enabled first
computer 16 in step 84. The server 10 determines whether an
establish-connection signal has been received from the first
computer in step 86. If a new search has been requested instead,
then steps 80 through 86 are repeated.
If an establish-connection request is transmitted in step 86, a
determination is made 87 as to whether the connection will be made
through the central office 24. If the connection will be made
through the central office 24, a call is initiated by the server 10
in step 88 to take place between the computer 16 of the virtual PBX
35 and the first telephone 26. This is achieved either by sending
the phone number and a command to the first computer 16 or by using
the CTI interface 30 to the virtual PBX 35 that will invoke the
call as a third party call. All voice information received from the
first telephone 26 is packetized by a gateway 27 for transmission
90 by the server 10 to the first computer 16 via the data link. In
this manner, the call is forwarded 90 via an IP telephony
connection to the first computer 16.
If it is determined in step 87 that the connection will not be made
through the central office, the server 10 transmits 92 the network
address of the called terminal to the first computer 16 together
with instructions for the first computer 16 to transmit 94 a call
setup message to the called terminal utilizing the network address
to route the call setup messages. The network address is also
utilized to route packetized voice data to the called terminal. If
the connection is not routed through the central office 24, it is
unnecessary for the gateway 27 to support a telephonic connection
and to forward the telephonic connection to the computer 16 via an
IP telephony link.
* * * * *